Two families sadly lost their lives when their shacks caught alight in separate incidents in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality and Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality respectively this weekend.
According to police spokesperson, Colonel Priscilla Naidu, at about 04:00 this morning, September 17, a family of six died when their shack in Missionvale, Gqeberha (NMB) burned to the ground.
She said that it is alleged that two adults and four children died in the blaze.
Naidu said that their ages and names are not yet known.
“It is suspected that the cause may have been because of illegal electricity connection, however, the exact cause will be determined by the fire department,” said Naidu.
In a separate incident, she said that a mother (40) and her three children died during the early hours of Friday morning, September 15, when their home burned down in Tshabo, Ndevana (BCM).
Naidu said that the children aged three and 10 years old (two girls and a boy) also died in the blaze.
“Neighbours tried in vain to extinguish the fire, but it was too intense,” said Naidu.
She said that the names of the deceased will be released once the next of kin have been informed.
Naidu said that in both cases, inquest dockets have been opened for investigation.
